Premier's message for the season

A few years ago a man entered a church in a Saskatchewan city, just before Christmas on the first Sunday of advent. His life felt dark with misery and with little hope of change. When the service began, the church was darkened and the priest began to read. Someone lit the first advent candle. That one candle glowed and dispelled the darkness. The man felt that Light and focused desperately on it. To him it suddenly represented the hope he had been missing. Hope that just maybe, one small bit of Light could change him. That maybe there was a chance that the peace and hope of Christmas could penetrate his soul. He is quite a different man today.

Years ago God became man in the form of a tiny baby. An unadorned baby, born into inauspicious surroundings, who was to be called Jesus. Human in the humblest form. To show us that He chose to identify with our struggles and provide a way of peace and hope. To show us that He looks at our hearts, not our appearance or our bank account or whether there are letters after our name. We are all equal in His eyes.

Everyone is deserving of a chance. Deserving of hope. Even deserving of a miracle. He taught us to be kind to each other and give help and healing where needed. To let our light shine.

We all need hope. We can all give hope. Being one small bit of light in someone's life can make a profound difference. A small shoebox filled with love can bring hope to a child in Mexico. A cow or a chicken given to honor someone you love can help a family in Africa. But we don't have to look even that far to find someone we can help. A Salvation Army kettle in Saskatoon can buy a gift for a child who is otherwise unlikely to get one. A Food Bank in Moose Jaw can give a hamper for a family who would otherwise miss out on Christmas dinner. Or an invitation tendered in Spiritwood can provide the warmth of family to someone who would otherwise be lonely.

As George Matthew Adams said, "Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first."

There was a spirit of hope among a group of shepherds 2,000 years ago that was unprecedented. It remains unprecedented today. All because a child was born to bring hope to all people.

For most of us in Saskatchewan, there is a spirit of hope today that is unprecedented. Yet there are still those in need. In need of jobs, in need of a warm place to live, in need of our generosity. This Christmas and all the year, we can be His source of light and hope. We should all aspire to be that light.

From me and my wife Tami, and our children Megan, Colter and Faith, and from my colleagues in the Government of Saskatchewan, we wish you a Christmas that celebrates hope and light and love.